Tulsa County Fair Board GOB Party Over?

[Copperhead]

Expo Square: Policy Discussion: Change orders fuel fiery debate

Seems now that Attorney Clark Brewster has become a member of the Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority, he is asking the questions many have asked over the years.  But the difference is Mr. Brewster won't be ignored, can read the law, and is as tenacious as a pit bull.

For years change orders on projects have been regularly used to skirt the bidding process on government projects.  This GOB scheme is fairly simple; low bid a project, win the project bid, start the project, now make up the difference through change orders.  Could it be happening here?

Of course for this to work, some of those in authority to make decisions and bid approval must be in the know.  Additionally, they must be at the ready to deal with any potential roadblocks such as pesky citizens asking questions, or a pis*ed-off and on bidder whose legitimate bid was rejected with a, "sorry, just too high; better luck next time, unless you raise a stink, then of course you will never do business around here."  But could it be happening here?  Seems I remember some past stories in the World in which some disgruntled bidder did complain.  . . [!]

Good Luck and Happy Hunting to TCPFA Trustee Brewster!  Hopefully he will keep asking tough questions and demanding answers.  The citizens are depending on him to do what's been needed for some 35+ years!

An inquiry I received "testing the waters" for City Councilor Bill Christiansen should he run against Commissioner Bob Dick in his upcoming re-election bid could spell more changes at the fairgrounds.

This would be a tough campaign since Dick likely has a healthy war chest and could probably look to the Good Ole Boys (GOB's) getting Tulsa County and TCPFA contracts to contribute some cash? Guess time will tell!

The Tulsa World story is posted below with the link.

Expo Square: Policy Discussion: Change orders fuel fiery debate

By SUSAN HYLTON World Staff Writer
5/16/2006

View in Print (PDF) Format


The Tulsa County fair board has decided to hold another work session on fairgrounds policy following a split vote to approve more than $115,000 in change orders on Vision 2025 projects.

Board member Clark Brewster cast the dissenting vote in a 3-1 approval of the expenditure after grilling representatives from Flintco and Matrix, the fairgrounds' construction manager and architecture firm.

Change orders can be requested whenever unanticipated, unforeseen or miscalculated costs arise that are beyond the original contract amount. By law, change orders can be no more than 10 percent of a contract that's worth $1 million or more. A contract of less than $1 million can have a 15 percent change order.

Brewster objected to the number of change orders Flintco and Matrix have presented recently as well as the process for payment, which is made based on an estimate that is not competitively bid.

In five instances, the changes resulted from something that Flintco or Matrix missed, Brewster charged.

Paying for the actual cost from an invoice as opposed to an estimate would be a better policy, he said.

"In legal practice, we call that malpractice," Brewster said. "That's not the way I would conduct my business. If this was my construction management team, I'd have a serious problem."

Board member Jim Orbison said a policy meeting could be a healthy way to work through the process.

"I'm uncomfortable having a split vote on change orders," he said.

Orbison and County Commissioners Bob Dick and Wilbert Collins voted for the change orders. Commissioner Randi Miller was unable to attend the meeting.

Matrix architect Michael Birkes said his company checks to make sure that Expo Square is getting a good value by comparing its estimate to the subcontractor's estimate. Matrix considered the change order amounts to be fair and reasonable.

If the actual cost ends up being less, the company makes extra money; if the costs are more than the estimate, the company has to assume the overrun.

Brewster asked whether Matrix followed up to see what the contractor's actual costs end up being. Birkes said the company does not get into that kind of detail but insisted that it has been a good steward of public money.

Brewster said paying the estimate opens the board up to spending much more than it costs the subcontractors.

Birkes said the change order approach is industry standard.

"This is the way we handle change orders on everything," he said.

From a consistency standpoint, it is more desirable to stick with the same bidder on a project, Birkes said. For example, if more than one bidder did the work on an electrical project, it is difficult to pin down whom to go to when something goes wrong.

Dick said he thinks the change orders seem appropriate and in the public's best interest.

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Susan Hylton 581-8313
susan.hylton@tulsaworld.com



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Expo Square change orders
Central Plant

Palmer Plumbing Heating & Air-Conditioning, $3,006 for power for cooling tower basin heaters.

Reason: Architects thought power would be provided with cooling tower but it was not.

Palmer Plumbing Heating & Air-Conditioning, $57,068 for connecting HVAC systems in Barn D, Exposition Center, Pavilion, Central Park Hall and North Arena.

Reason: Buildings being connected were in planning process and specifics were not identifiable to include in bid package.

Barn D

Trademark Mechanical, $908.25 to move HVAC duct to accommodate fire suppression pump.

Reason: Architects originally thought existing water pressure would be sufficient.


Cantera Concrete Company, $452.50 for concrete pad under walk-through doors.

Reason: Original bid was for asphalt. Flintco felt that concrete would be more stable.


Alliance Electrical Contractors, $9,013 to supply electric to fire suppression pump.

Reason: Fire pump was not in original design.


Alliance Electrical Contractors, $20,258 to run four conduits from electrical room to guard/ticket booth.

Reason: Original bids did not include power being restored at this location.


Alliance Electrical Contractors, $9,848 to restore power to the lights in lot 7.

Reason: Power for the lights came from old race barns that were demolished.

Armory roof

Bennett Steel, $15,750 to bridge the existing joists with metal bracing.

Reason: Needed to stabilize the joists.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=060516_Ne_A11_Chang11291